Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Best cruiser was taking my mother 80yrs on her last cruise. She was a travel agent and cruises were her favorite trips, she got me started. I pushed her all around San Juan in a wheelchair, all day on our last day, definitely worth it! If you have someone that has loved cruising, take them before they can no longer physically go, you'll never regret it.
I’m going on a cruise myself with my mom in a few days and my mom has spine problems (she’s pushing 70) so she may think this European cruise might be her one and only opportunity to move around more robustly before her spine problems become potentially worse
What impresses me the most about you and your channel is that you really do read our comments from the fact that you reply to all of us ! We are acknowledged by you and we will do the same for you. 🎉
Good morning! I'm about to go on my 1st cruise next Thursday with my best friend, who's been on quite a few cruises. I'm really enjoying your videos and am implementing several tips. Thank you for all of the topics you cover!
May 2023 is my and my husband’s first cruise. First real vacation together. We’re going on a 7 day western Caribbean cruise with Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We are sooo excited! I never thought I would be someone who goes on cruises. And after almost losing my husband at 35 years old to a brain aneurysm/coma. We are getting a lot of bucket list items done! Life’s too short to not enjoy your life. ❤
A couple days ago you were at 199 thousand and today I see you're at 200,000! Congratulations! You doubled your subscribers in 7 months that's incredible.
I am so excited my husband and I have our 1st cruise set for September 2023 and I have been binge watching all of your amazing videos 😊! Your videos have helped to not only help me feel more prepared but has also increased my level of excitement and anticipation! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication!
1st cruise coming for 25yr wedding anniversary july31-aug 5, 2023. carnival breeze to cozumel...binge watching ur channel. Thank u! Also got me more excited and built anticipation!
Ilana, I can understand your concerns with organizing a group cruise, but if you just shared your cruise plans for a future trip (e.g. late 2023), I can guarantee at least a few dozen of your 100K+ fans would follow...no strings attached! Of course, no financial benefit to you...so just an idea. And OMG, you are the most recent proof that Canadians are the *nicest* people on planet earth! Your "worst cruise" reveal had to be the gentlest criticism EVER recorded on UA-cam! In today's world of trolling as a sport, your sincere but honest evaluations are a breath of fresh air. Congrats on your success! (As for *our* 2023 plans, we are taking a 2-week Antarctica cruise on Albatross Ocean Victory in March and a 2-week eastern Caribbean cruise on NCL's Prima in December...so many freebies we couldn't resist! But still working up towards your 5-cruises-in-one-year record 😁)
I'm going on my first Cruise in August on the Emerald Princess. I've watched a lot of your videos, they're so helpful. We're going on our honeymoon to Hawaii from LA. (We're English). This is my holiday of a lifetime. We've been together 10 years and have never had a holiday because I got sick within 6 months of meeting my husband. I had to have a double organ transplant, that was 4 years ago. We got married last september and now I'm so excited to be going on this Cruise. We plan to do many more as well. Thank you for you wonderful Videos. Leigh. XXXXX
My husband and I live in Northern BC and relate to your comments about craving warm destinations. Never cruised before so are starting with a 6 night cruise on Celebrity Summit to see if we enjoy cruising. I am a planner so am very appreciative and grateful for all you videos. I’ve watch a lot of them and feel well prepared. THANK YOU!
I knew you would do it ! And right around 4 years ? Impressive ! It’s because you’re informative and enjoyable. I tell everyone I know who cruises. Next goal…. a MILLION !
Please don't wait until something happens to do the bucket list. Do it now. You never who it may "happen to." 😢 My 22 y G and 17 y G lost their Dad to brain cancer last year.
Congrats on the 100K subscribers! This year we did an Alaska cruise and LOVED it, did the one way and then rented car and traveled for 4 days. It’s an amazing trip. Upcoming cruises are Canada and an 11 day Mediterranean.
Sept 2019 to the Med and Croatia on Viking Ocean was awesome until we did back to backs in Tahiti on Windstar! OMG! It was beyond fantastic! It was right after they opened up after Covid and the people were so happy to have tourism back they treated us like kings and queens! Please try to go there, Ilana? Love your content!!!🥰🩷🙏🏻
Congratulations, Ilana on 100K. Yes, a live reveal of your UA-cam plaque, plus questions and answers, would be fantastic. No cruising for us in 2023 because I want to finish my dissertation for December 2023 graduation. But 2024 will be Gary Bembridge's (Tips for Travellers) HAL Panama Canal Members' cruise. Perhaps you should consider sailing on his group cruise and learn the ins and outs from Gary!?!?
Yea for you Ilana..you totally deserve this and more. LWC is the most informative and friendly cruise YT around!! So proud to be a subscriber!! Congratulations 😻😻😻 Mediterranean cruise my fav also!!
I absolutely love your content. I have been on a few cruises. The best was Sovereign of the Seas with a girlfriend. I was pregnant and had just gotten over the nausea phase. I ate like a queen and kept it all down. My least favorite was a small ship in Hawaii, but only the ship was disappointing. We met 2 other couples while boarding, one younger and one a little older. We stayed together for shore time. My husband had lived in HA so he made a great tour guide. We all rented a van together for a really great price. We still laugh at the memories 35 years later. The best show was hula dancing! I didn't expect to enjoy it so much.
Congratulations!!! My wife and I love watching your show and the cruise hacks you provide. Love your insights and your upbeat delivery. Keep up the good work and we'll keep watching! Again. Congratulations!
Congratulations! I love your channel! We've been watching so many of your videos the last few weeks because we are going on our first cruise ever. You've given us so many useful tips that we feel like we are going to be pros. You have given us so many ideas that we would have never thought of including the luggage tags. I had no idea about that but thank you. Congratulations again and we will be sure to tell everyone we know about your channel. 🥰💞❤🛳
Congratulations on your 100K achievement! Well deserved! My wife and I most always sip on a glass of Champagne while watching your videos. We have three cruises currently scheduled for 2023 - our first in February a 10-day cruise on the Enchanted Princess to the Caribbean out of Port Everglades. Then we have a cruise to Bermuda scheduled for June and a repositioning cruise scheduled for September from Tampa to Boston - both with Royal Caribbean. Thanks for sharing all of your information with us.
I have cruised before many many years ago. But I finally have gotten my Husband and Son and BFf and her family to book a cruise to Alaska in 2025. We can't wait!!!
Have been on two 15 day cruises to Hawaii over the holidays and LOVED it. Love sea days. So relaxing and filled with activities if that is your preference.
Worse cruise was on Carnival to Mexico. Best cruise was on the Diamond Princess to Japan, 17 day cruise. Disney cruise was fun. We went to Alaska. We went on Princess Discovery to Alaska. We will be going on another Princess cruise to Mexico in January. We love Princess cruises!
Congratulations on 100K, certainly took a lot of work to get this far. We appreciated this video and your honesty in answering all of these excellent questions. Well done!
2023 - another 15 day cruise to Hawaii on the Sapphire Princess, and then in 2024, 11 days to Alaska on another Princess ship.. LOTS of other travel on land in between.. we're looking forward to all of it.
First cruise was on the NCL Norway in 1983. Service and food that equaled the current 6 star cruise lines. The daily midnight ice carving buffet was spectacular. Formal night; tuxedoes & formal attire for the ladies.
My husband and I are taking our first cruise ever...he actually cruised once, years ago, but first for me. We are flying to Greece for a 7 day cruise. I have been watching you for 5 months and refer to you as a friend! I tell my husband "Illana said"...he's left it up to me to prepare and pack knowing we are in good hands. We leave next week...Aug 3...thanks for all your help!
I totally agree with the "all of the above" response to how to choose cruises. We have preferred lines, and also ships within the lines...and we sometimes deviate for itineraries. I agree with almost everything you said. My longest cruise is 28 days. In general I believe that longer is better--by the time I spend the time, money, and effort, I may as well enjoy the ship for a while. I really don't have any interest in going past that 28 days (b2b), but it was great as each time we went over 24 days, it was two different itineraries on the same ship. For people worrying about quality, I've found it to range from good to excellent depending more on the cruise line than anything. And the "right" line for us has changed over the years as ages and family situations have changed.
Congratulations!!! We've been watching/subscribed for over a year! You helped us navigate (pun intended) our first cruise, and we're set for two more in the next 6 months! 🎉🎉🎉 (Honored to be The First Comment on this video. ❤️)
Just did Alaska, Mediterranean, have been to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora not on cruise yet and did Hawaii cruise a few years ago. All were incredible. Did Norweigen 2 times and Princess. Cannot wait until hubby retires so we can cruise 5 times a year! 😊
We have found that our most relaxing cruises, if that is your goal, is when only one of us takes Wi-Fi to keep in touch with my husbands work. We retire at the end of the year so that won’t be a thing anymore, we’ll go back to the old days where we’ll tell people where we are and they can find us if they need to. Our most relaxing cruise is best far has been when the restart happened and cruises were sailing at 50% or less capacity. In the real world, we have discovered that nine or 10 day cruises are the best for us, for relaxation, exactly as you have found. Also we have decided as we get further and further away from home cruising and otherwise traveling, we take out annual insurance. It gives us delay of trip, loss reimbursements, change of plans allowances and cancellation. Our number one reason was two has plenty of coverage should we have to be medevac from a foreign country far away or spend significant amounts of time in rehab before we could come home. We always travel with a passport for the same reasons.
Congratulations on 100k! Your videos provide me so much enjoyment. Until recently my last cruise had been almost 39 years. I just went on a 5 days cruise to Mexico after a Disneyland trip. I am now hooked! My next cruise on Princess is already booked. I have ordered so many of your suggested items from Amazon.
Congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers. I enjoy your video series and learn from each one that you produce. I also have purchased your guidebook and will be using it throughout 2023 with my cruises. Hats off to you! 🌹
You are one of the most informed people I have ever met or actually not met huh because I am watching you on UA-cam but just wanted to let you know you are informative. You are smart and I really really really like your attitude. You are so precious you really are precious I’m 75 years old going to be 76 Christmas day and I truly enjoyed the freshness that you bring to gnus for cruisers. I listen to everyone of them I am currently on a cruise to the Bahamas with my three great grandchildren and we are thoroughly enjoying it .
Congratulations on this well earned milestone! We are going on our firsts cruise and your videos and digital cruise planner have been invaluable in helping us prepare!
I TOTALLY AGREE on your thoughts regarding Dubai and Las Vegas. I have been to Vegas and the environment was not something we enjoyed. It was a "one and done" for us.
Absolute favorite cruise - Hurtigruten , small ships up and down the coast of Norway. Star of the show is scenery and local color not the craziness onboard ship. Try it!
Congrats on the milestone. I have 2 cruises booked with the first coming in 10 days. I have to agree with you that Celebrity has become my favorite cruise line. Was loyal to Royal for many years but as I’ve aged, Celebrity has become my fav.
Cruising is wonderful BUT PLEASE go not forget there are beautiful, amazing places to visit on road trips: Colorado , the Smokey Mountains, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the many National Parks, Galveston Island , just to name a few. You will not regret these very exciting destinations ❤ I love your channel and you are so honest. ❤
I was wondering if you think I could ask for a price ajustement I booked back on June payed off my cruise now my sisters just booked the some cruise 300 dollars cheaper I try to call they keep pass from one to another no problem resolve
ALWAYS ALWAYS bring an expandable bag! I carry a red duffle folded up in my backpack. Go ahead, tell yourself your on a budget and won't buy much. I bet you will and that bag is 20xs the price once there
My ideal cruise length is 20 to 40 days. It helps offset the pricey air and pre cruise hotel. And I only bring carry-on luggage. One small bag and a back pack. I am Elite on Princess and get FREE, UNLIMITED, laundry and dry cleaning, so I only need minimal clothing. (An advantage of being a guy. LOL)
Thank you! My husband and I are going on our very first ever cruise on June 2024. Our destination is Amsterdam, Iceland, and Ireland on Celebrity Silhouette. We are a well traveled couple. We first went on a 23-day vacation to London, Paris, and Rome in 2009 and we were hooked! So we have been visiting different European cities eversince. The reason we haven't cruised is because I have BPPV and motion sickness. The only reason I was convinced to go on this cruise is because I will be going with my nurse and doctor friends and they promised to take care of me :). Plus, I have been watching your videos and been taking detailed notes, so I think that I'm ready to go on my 1st cruise!
Well me and my wife will not go on Carnival again. We've been on it twice and both times very disappointed in the cruise and the passengers on board as well. How they conducted themselves in front of my life.
I have enjoyed Carnival with my kids who are young adults. However, my last cruise was annoying because of the people with babies and toddlers. They allowed their babies to crawl upstairs, touch the jewelry cabinets and they basically treated the ship like it was their kid’s playpen. School age kid 5+ are fine but it’s not a baby nursery for me. Otherwise the newer Carnival ships are lovely and a great time!
I didn't realize your were from Canada as well. I am from Ontario, Canada. I went on my first cruise Oct 2022 on the Carnival Horizon. This was a group cruise of 40+ UA-camrs and supporters for the inaugural cruise for the charity Helping Hands 4 Cruising....started by The Downunder Cruisers...we had an amazing time...booked on another HH4C group cruise in Oct 2024 on the Carnival Breeze...I'm hooked on cruising now...and I learned so much from your channel prior to my first cruise...thank you so much!
You mentioned you’ve never been to Vegas so I thought I’d share a couple thoughts…..I don’t gamble & I don’t drink, but I think Vegas is super fun! Tons of excellent food options, lots of great shows to choose from, and the people watching is like no place you’ve ever been😂
I've spent te last 5 years maximizing the number of classes/credits at college, taking double the number most students do. In those 5 years I've started from scratch and completed my Associates, Bachelor, and in a few months, my Master's degrees. We booked a 9 night cruise to celebrate my graduation as a licensed trauma counselor in November. Our cruise will be my first vacation in 5 1/2 years without having to bring a computer to complete and hand in classwork! A real vacation! We're booked on Celebrity (for the 1st time) Equinox, room with floor to ceiling sliders to a veranda. We're going to the Caribbean, Grand Cayman, and the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. I'm so happy to hear you recommend Celebrity. We've only been on about 4 cruises, always Carnival. This will be our first "upgrade" cruise. Any tips on what I should NOT miss when on their ship?
My boyfriend and I and possibly some friends are going on a Carnival cruise for my birthday in May on the Celebration. I cannot wait. Will be my 3rd cruise
My sister booked a cruise for us out of Norfolk next year! So cool that I live in Carnivals new port city ❤❤❤. I hope some of the other cruise lines will come this way too.
I just booked a Christmas cruise with my BFF since the sixth grade. We are going to the Caribbean I am binge watching your UA-cam channel. Wanted to say One, you are not missing anything in Vegas Two, Thank You very much🙏
I cannot tell you how I have enjoyed all of your videos that are so helpful for my 1st upcoming cruise to Mexico by Royal Caribbean..I can’t wait… only a few days away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! 🎉
Love your videos, I just realized by watching this one what that plaque is that you have sitting on the table behind you when you make your newer videos! We are cruising on a land/cruise in 2025 on Holland America and I am over the top excited! I can’t watch enough videos. It’s a 12 day package but we are arriving two days early in Fairbanks to acclimate and start to chillax! Thanks for all you do, and yes I would be interested join you and others who follow you on a group tour.
Addicted to your channel. Love it. Good tips, always positive and enjoyable. And, you are from Mtl Canada ! Also, you read our comments and reply. My fav channel.
I love cruising! We’ve been to many since 2002, which was my first and it was to Alaska in Celebrity Summit and it was only me and my mother in law. My husband and me have been to many others since that and NeXT May we intend to cruise to Alaska, because I want so much that he can go there! I loved it! Every cruise I’ve been to was great, except one to caribean and it was horrible in every meaning!
Never been on a cruise before. Have a 9yo and 15yo boys who love our annual trips to Gulf Shores, but we wanted a change, so we just booked a Carnival Breeze 5 day cruise to the Caribbean for Fall break next year. From watching multiple videos, I understand that choice may not be the most luxurious option, but with the reputation of being the "fun" ship with a casual family like mine, I am confident that we chose the best cruise out of Galveston (3 hour drive from home) for our family! The older one is a stud athlete, so all the sports fun on that ship is going to keep him busy! The younger one is a fish at heart and a gamer, which again, I think we nailed it for this cruise choice. I don't want this first cruise to be too elegant or classy, we just want to have fun and not worry about who's watching. Ha! No high expectations for us. The cruise you will be going on soon with your adult sons, looks and sounds magical and that may be cruise #2 for us if we enjoy this 1st one like I imagine we will! Thanks for the videos, I have so many of your cruise supplies suggestions saved in my amazon cart. I will be collecting all the "things" throughout the year until we sail!
First off, congratulations! We have been watching since early 2023! My family bet that I’d never go on a cruise, but we actually all booked a Carnival Alaskan cruise for June 24. Your videos are so valuable, so thank you. Now is it bad that you’ve become the Sunday night TV of choice?? Yes, every week I’m told it “cruise video time!”
We have 5 cruises booked for 2023 and 1 for January 2024. 1 7 night in May on Oasis. 1 11 nights in September on Jewel of the seas. 1 b2b 7 and 7 nights on Anthem in November. 1 7 nights in December on Anthem. And 1 11 nights in January 2024 on Anthem.
I have some questions for your next Q & A session: have you ever encountered issues with Norovirus on a cruise ship? Are you concerned at all about this? What about the spa's on a cruise ship? Have you checked them out? How far ahead of time must someone book an appointment with the spa? Are there little mini refrigerators in a room? I might have to bring medication with me which requires refrigeration.
I have done more than 109 cruises (since 1960)… now I do about 10 cruises a year. I do understand keeping up the novelty of it, so I do different lines.
Congratulations on 100 k. You certainly deserve it as you are the best there is when it comes to cruise info! Going on Celebrity to Bermuda in 2024 & I have watched every video!! You are so easy to listen to and you have the best tips! Thank you so much from the East coast of Canada!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🎉🎉🎉🎉🤗🤗🤗
Really enjoy your videos and comments! I do feel your taste of cruising is on the higher end. We are grandparents and we still prefer RCCL and Princess over all. We like normal foods and are not into elegant menus. The activities are definitely geared for all ages on RCCL and Princess. Nothing will ever get us back on a Celebrity ship. We enjoy active cruises and relaxation cruises. Thank you and keep up the good work
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
Just purchased because i want to go on my first cruise! It's so difficult to choose because sooooo many to weed through ...
Ordered cruise planner but got nothing down loaded
Best cruiser was taking my mother 80yrs on her last cruise. She was a travel agent and cruises were her favorite trips, she got me started. I pushed her all around San Juan in a wheelchair, all day on our last day, definitely worth it! If you have someone that has loved cruising, take them before they can no longer physically go, you'll never regret it.
100% agree. I was able to do that for my mom too. Pushing her around in wheelchair and also letting her walk a bit while I guarded her from the crowd.
I’m going on a cruise myself with my mom in a few days and my mom has spine problems (she’s pushing 70) so she may think this European cruise might be her one and only opportunity to move around more robustly before her spine problems become potentially worse
Gif bless you bless sweet daughter .❤
What impresses me the most about you and your channel is that you really do read our comments from the fact that you reply to all of us ! We are acknowledged by you and we will do the same for you. 🎉
That’s really kind of you! Thanks so much 😊
I totally agree with you. Ilana acknowledges our messages. I still watch her videos even though I went in October.
Good morning! I'm about to go on my 1st cruise next Thursday with my best friend, who's been on quite a few cruises. I'm really enjoying your videos and am implementing several tips. Thank you for all of the topics you cover!
First one 2023
@@onenoinoum Me too! I love this channel! I can’t wait for my first cruise in a few months
May 2023 is my and my husband’s first cruise. First real vacation together. We’re going on a 7 day western Caribbean cruise with Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We are sooo excited! I never thought I would be someone who goes on cruises. And after almost losing my husband at 35 years old to a brain aneurysm/coma. We are getting a lot of bucket list items done! Life’s too short to not enjoy your life. ❤
😢😊
Royal Caribbean is an excellent cruise line
A couple days ago you were at 199 thousand and today I see you're at 200,000! Congratulations! You doubled your subscribers in 7 months that's incredible.
I am so excited my husband and I have our 1st cruise set for September 2023 and I have been binge watching all of your amazing videos 😊! Your videos have helped to not only help me feel more prepared but has also increased my level of excitement and anticipation! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication!
1st cruise coming for 25yr wedding anniversary july31-aug 5, 2023. carnival breeze to cozumel...binge watching ur channel. Thank u! Also got me more excited and built anticipation!
We are going on our first cruise in dec. We love these videos! Celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary. 🌹🌹🌹
You will LOVE cruising!
@@jkoopmans37how did you like it?
Ilana, I can understand your concerns with organizing a group cruise, but if you just shared your cruise plans for a future trip (e.g. late 2023), I can guarantee at least a few dozen of your 100K+ fans would follow...no strings attached! Of course, no financial benefit to you...so just an idea.
And OMG, you are the most recent proof that Canadians are the *nicest* people on planet earth! Your "worst cruise" reveal had to be the gentlest criticism EVER recorded on UA-cam! In today's world of trolling as a sport, your sincere but honest evaluations are a breath of fresh air. Congrats on your success!
(As for *our* 2023 plans, we are taking a 2-week Antarctica cruise on Albatross Ocean Victory in March and a 2-week eastern Caribbean cruise on NCL's Prima in December...so many freebies we couldn't resist! But still working up towards your 5-cruises-in-one-year record 😁)
I'm going on my first Cruise in August on the Emerald Princess. I've watched a lot of your videos, they're so helpful. We're going on our honeymoon to Hawaii from LA. (We're English). This is my holiday of a lifetime. We've been together 10 years and have never had a holiday because I got sick within 6 months of meeting my husband. I had to have a double organ transplant, that was 4 years ago. We got married last september and now I'm so excited to be going on this Cruise. We plan to do many more as well. Thank you for you wonderful Videos. Leigh. XXXXX
My husband and I live in Northern BC and relate to your comments about craving warm destinations. Never cruised before so are starting with a 6 night cruise on Celebrity Summit to see if we enjoy cruising. I am a planner so am very appreciative and grateful for all you videos. I’ve watch a lot of them and feel well prepared. THANK YOU!
Congratulations!!! I’m so happy that’s you’ve reached 100k!! You deserve all this success!
Thanks so much!! 😊
10 days sounds like a dream
I knew you would do it ! And right around 4 years ? Impressive ! It’s because you’re informative and enjoyable. I tell everyone I know who cruises.
Next goal…. a MILLION !
Totally agree! Never been to Vegas, no desire.
First time cruiser-April 2023. Thank you for all of your videos!
It's so nice to hear you hit the big 100,000! We enjoy your cruise channel.
Please don't wait until something happens to do the bucket list. Do it now. You never who it may "happen to." 😢 My 22 y G and 17 y G lost their Dad to brain cancer last year.
Congrats on the 100K subscribers! This year we did an Alaska cruise and LOVED it, did the one way and then rented car and traveled for 4 days. It’s an amazing trip. Upcoming cruises are Canada and an 11 day Mediterranean.
10 days is my ideal cruise!
Was nice to get to know you a little better. Congratulations.🎉
Thanks so much for watching, and for your kind words :)
Sept 2019 to the Med and Croatia on Viking Ocean was awesome until we did back to backs in Tahiti on Windstar! OMG! It was beyond fantastic! It was right after they opened up after Covid and the people were so happy to have tourism back they treated us like kings and queens! Please try to go there, Ilana? Love your content!!!🥰🩷🙏🏻
Congratulations, Ilana on 100K. Yes, a live reveal of your UA-cam plaque, plus questions and answers, would be fantastic. No cruising for us in 2023 because I want to finish my dissertation for December 2023 graduation. But 2024 will be Gary Bembridge's (Tips for Travellers) HAL Panama Canal Members' cruise. Perhaps you should consider sailing on his group cruise and learn the ins and outs from Gary!?!?
Wow, that sounds fantastic & great to look forward to! Thanks so much 😊
Don’t look now, but you’re at 205k subscribers 👍👏🍾
Yea for you Ilana..you totally deserve this and more. LWC is the most informative and friendly cruise YT around!! So proud to be a subscriber!! Congratulations 😻😻😻
Mediterranean cruise my fav also!!
You’re so sweet!! Thank you 😊
I absolutely love your content. I have been on a few cruises. The best was Sovereign of the Seas with a girlfriend. I was pregnant and had just gotten over the nausea phase. I ate like a queen and kept it all down. My least favorite was a small ship in Hawaii, but only the ship was disappointing. We met 2 other couples while boarding, one younger and one a little older. We stayed together for shore time. My husband had lived in HA so he made a great tour guide. We all rented a van together for a really great price. We still laugh at the memories 35 years later. The best show was hula dancing! I didn't expect to enjoy it so much.
Congratulations!!! My wife and I love watching your show and the cruise hacks you provide. Love your insights and your upbeat delivery. Keep up the good work and we'll keep watching! Again. Congratulations!
Yes, live celebration would be awesome!! Congrats¡!
Congrats on 100k! I love to hear your perspective as a fellow canadian and mom!
Congratulations! I love your channel! We've been watching so many of your videos the last few weeks because we are going on our first cruise ever. You've given us so many useful tips that we feel like we are going to be pros. You have given us so many ideas that we would have never thought of including the luggage tags. I had no idea about that but thank you. Congratulations again and we will be sure to tell everyone we know about your channel. 🥰💞❤🛳
Thanks! So glad the videos have given you a few extra tips :)
CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING YOUR CHANNEL'S GOAL🙏✝️❤🛳🛳❤😃😃😃😃😃🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
10 day cruises are perfect!!
Congratulations on your 100K achievement! Well deserved! My wife and I most always sip on a glass of Champagne while watching your videos. We have three cruises currently scheduled for 2023 - our first in February a 10-day cruise on the Enchanted Princess to the Caribbean out of Port Everglades. Then we have a cruise to Bermuda scheduled for June and a repositioning cruise scheduled for September from Tampa to Boston - both with Royal Caribbean. Thanks for sharing all of your information with us.
Wow, nice cruises planned! Thanks so much 🥂
I have cruised before many many years ago. But I finally have gotten my Husband and Son and BFf and her family to book a cruise to Alaska in 2025. We can't wait!!!
Have been on two 15 day cruises to Hawaii over the holidays and LOVED it. Love sea days. So relaxing and filled with activities if that is your preference.
Worse cruise was on Carnival to Mexico. Best cruise was on the Diamond Princess to Japan, 17 day cruise. Disney cruise was fun. We went to Alaska. We went on Princess Discovery to Alaska. We will be going on another Princess cruise to Mexico in January. We love Princess cruises!
Congratulations on 100K, certainly took a lot of work to get this far. We appreciated this video and your honesty in answering all of these excellent questions. Well done!
Thank you so much!
2023 - another 15 day cruise to Hawaii on the Sapphire Princess, and then in 2024, 11 days to Alaska on another Princess ship.. LOTS of other travel on land in between.. we're looking forward to all of it.
Don't worry. I don't think that many cruises visit Vegas. They have a sub standard cruise ship harbour. LMAO
First cruise was on the NCL Norway in 1983. Service and food that equaled the current 6 star cruise lines. The daily midnight ice carving buffet was spectacular. Formal night; tuxedoes & formal attire for the ladies.
Congrats Illana!! I definitely find all your videos useful and of course I will and always give you a very BIG thumbs up 👍 😀
Thanks so much! I appreciate it 😊
My husband and I are taking our first cruise ever...he actually cruised once, years ago, but first for me. We are flying to Greece for a 7 day cruise. I have been watching you for 5 months and refer to you as a friend! I tell my husband "Illana said"...he's left it up to me to prepare and pack knowing we are in good hands. We leave next week...Aug 3...thanks for all your help!
I totally agree with the "all of the above" response to how to choose cruises. We have preferred lines, and also ships within the lines...and we sometimes deviate for itineraries. I agree with almost everything you said. My longest cruise is 28 days. In general I believe that longer is better--by the time I spend the time, money, and effort, I may as well enjoy the ship for a while. I really don't have any interest in going past that 28 days (b2b), but it was great as each time we went over 24 days, it was two different itineraries on the same ship. For people worrying about quality, I've found it to range from good to excellent depending more on the cruise line than anything. And the "right" line for us has changed over the years as ages and family situations have changed.
We are at a place in life that around 3 weeks is our sweet spot.
Congratulations!!! We've been watching/subscribed for over a year! You helped us navigate (pun intended) our first cruise, and we're set for two more in the next 6 months! 🎉🎉🎉 (Honored to be The First Comment on this video. ❤️)
That’s awesome!! So glad you got hooked on cruising (pun intended 😉)! Thanks for your comment & kind words! 🎉
We've enjoyed the Star Trek cruises aboard Nowegian and Royal Carribean. Liked the entertainment and other cruisers. Such fun.
Congratulations 🎉 I found your channel as I am preparing for my first cruise and have found your information extremely helpful!
Ashley I enjoy her channel as well very informative and I was very prepared for my first family cruise 🚢 listening to her channel
Just did Alaska, Mediterranean, have been to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora not on cruise yet and did Hawaii cruise a few years ago. All were incredible. Did Norweigen 2 times and Princess. Cannot wait until hubby retires so we can cruise 5 times a year! 😊
Congratulations! You certainly work hard to make a great channel! Thanks again.🌞
Thanks so much!! 😊
We have found that our most relaxing cruises, if that is your goal, is when only one of us takes Wi-Fi to keep in touch with my husbands work. We retire at the end of the year so that won’t be a thing anymore, we’ll go back to the old days where we’ll tell people where we are and they can find us if they need to.
Our most relaxing cruise is best far has been when the restart happened and cruises were sailing at 50% or less capacity. In the real world, we have discovered that nine or 10 day cruises are the best for us, for relaxation, exactly as you have found.
Also we have decided as we get further and further away from home cruising and otherwise traveling, we take out annual insurance. It gives us delay of trip, loss reimbursements, change of plans allowances and cancellation. Our number one reason was two has plenty of coverage should we have to be medevac from a foreign country far away or spend significant amounts of time in rehab before we could come home. We always travel with a passport for the same reasons.
Congratulations on 100k! Your videos provide me so much enjoyment. Until recently my last cruise had been almost 39 years. I just went on a 5 days cruise to Mexico after a Disneyland trip. I am now hooked! My next cruise on Princess is already booked. I have ordered so many of your suggested items from Amazon.
Thank you!! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed this past cruise 👏
Congratulations on reaching 100,000 subscribers. I enjoy your video series and learn from each one that you produce. I also have purchased your guidebook and will be using it throughout 2023 with my cruises. Hats off to you! 🌹
You are one of the most informed people I have ever met or actually not met huh because I am watching you on UA-cam but just wanted to let you know you are informative. You are smart and I really really really like your attitude. You are so precious you really are precious
I’m 75 years old going to be 76 Christmas day and I truly enjoyed the freshness that you bring to gnus for cruisers. I listen to everyone of them I am currently on a cruise to the Bahamas with my three great grandchildren and we are thoroughly enjoying it .
Congratulations on reaching 100k! Thanks for making videos we enjoy and can relate to. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much! 😊
Congratulations, Ilana!
100.000 is quite Wonderful!
Congratulations on this well earned milestone! We are going on our firsts cruise and your videos and digital cruise planner have been invaluable in helping us prepare!
Very exciting!! Have an amazing cruise Nicole & thank you 😊
I TOTALLY AGREE on your thoughts regarding Dubai and Las Vegas. I have been to Vegas and the environment was not something we enjoyed. It was a "one and done" for us.
Congrats on reaching your goal! I look forward to the next milestone! 💜
Thanks so much Jennifer!
Congratulations. Yes 🛳 cruising October the Halloween on Carnival on the beautiful new CELEBRATION
Congratulations Ilana on 100k! Thank you for your honest answers about your cruising experiences. I hope you have a wonderful cruise with your family!
Thanks so much Kelly!
Absolute favorite cruise - Hurtigruten , small ships up and down the coast of Norway. Star of the show is scenery and local color not the craziness onboard ship. Try it!
Congrats on the milestone. I have 2 cruises booked with the first coming in 10 days. I have to agree with you that Celebrity has become my favorite cruise line. Was loyal to Royal for many years but as I’ve aged, Celebrity has become my fav.
Thank you!! I hear you - I like the Celebrity has so much of the great entertainment and fun vibe that Royal has, but a bit more “mature”
Me too
First cruise of 2023 Alaska! Also a late summer criuse is being looked at. ❤
Cruising is wonderful BUT PLEASE go not forget there are beautiful, amazing places to visit on road trips: Colorado , the Smokey Mountains, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the many National Parks, Galveston Island , just to name a few. You will not regret these very exciting destinations ❤
I love your channel and you are so honest. ❤
Her post and job are about cruises. And she is very informative as well as truthful.
We are soooo similar, not in packing but in everything else!
Lol, definitely not in packing, but otherwise I’m sure we’ve got a lot in common 😂
I was wondering if you think I could ask for a price ajustement I booked back on June payed off my cruise now my sisters just booked the some cruise 300 dollars cheaper I try to call they keep pass from one to another no problem resolve
THANKFUL OF YOU🙏✝️❤🛳❤😃😃😃😃😃
ALWAYS ALWAYS bring an expandable bag! I carry a red duffle folded up in my backpack. Go ahead, tell yourself your on a budget and won't buy much. I bet you will and that bag is 20xs the price once there
My ideal cruise length is 20 to 40 days. It helps offset the pricey air and pre cruise hotel. And I only bring carry-on luggage. One small bag and a back pack. I am Elite on Princess and get FREE, UNLIMITED, laundry and dry cleaning, so I only need minimal clothing. (An advantage of being a guy. LOL)
20 to 40 days? I get 10 vacation days a year, lol.
@@jenniferbond7073 You will retire, eventually.
Thank you! My husband and I are going on our very first ever cruise on June 2024. Our destination is Amsterdam, Iceland, and Ireland on Celebrity Silhouette. We are a well traveled couple. We first went on a 23-day vacation to London, Paris, and Rome in 2009 and we were hooked! So we have been visiting different European cities eversince. The reason we haven't cruised is because I have BPPV and motion sickness. The only reason I was convinced to go on this cruise is because I will be going with my nurse and doctor friends and they promised to take care of me :). Plus, I have been watching your videos and been taking detailed notes, so I think that I'm ready to go on my 1st cruise!
Heading to Hawaii for the Pride of America cruise. Can't wait!!
Well me and my wife will not go on Carnival again. We've been on it twice and both times very disappointed in the cruise and the passengers on board as well. How they conducted themselves in front of my life.
Agree. Been on 4 separate Carnival cruises and have given up on them. Last cruise about 5 years ago was the last one.
There’s a cruise line for everyone. Thanks for sharing
We've been on 3 and the last one in a suite. And all 3 were disappointing in various ways. So it's we will not be cruising with them again.
I have enjoyed Carnival with my kids who are young adults. However, my last cruise was annoying because of the people with babies and toddlers. They allowed their babies to crawl upstairs, touch the jewelry cabinets and they basically treated the ship like it was their kid’s playpen. School age kid 5+ are fine but it’s not a baby nursery for me. Otherwise the newer Carnival ships are lovely and a great time!
What’d they do?
I didn't realize your were from Canada as well. I am from Ontario, Canada. I went on my first cruise Oct 2022 on the Carnival Horizon. This was a group cruise of 40+ UA-camrs and supporters for the inaugural cruise for the charity Helping Hands 4 Cruising....started by The Downunder Cruisers...we had an amazing time...booked on another HH4C group cruise in Oct 2024 on the Carnival Breeze...I'm hooked on cruising now...and I learned so much from your channel prior to my first cruise...thank you so much!
You mentioned you’ve never been to Vegas so I thought I’d share a couple thoughts…..I don’t gamble & I don’t drink, but I think Vegas is super fun! Tons of excellent food options, lots of great shows to choose from, and the people watching is like no place you’ve ever been😂
Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers! Love hanging out with you talking cruising!
I spent 2 weeks in Italy and had no problems communicating and the only Italian I knew was please, thank you, and pleased to meet you.😊
I've spent te last 5 years maximizing the number of classes/credits at college, taking double the number most students do. In those 5 years I've started from scratch and completed my Associates, Bachelor, and in a few months, my Master's degrees. We booked a 9 night cruise to celebrate my graduation as a licensed trauma counselor in November. Our cruise will be my first vacation in 5 1/2 years without having to bring a computer to complete and hand in classwork! A real vacation! We're booked on Celebrity (for the 1st time) Equinox, room with floor to ceiling sliders to a veranda. We're going to the Caribbean, Grand Cayman, and the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. I'm so happy to hear you recommend Celebrity. We've only been on about 4 cruises, always Carnival. This will be our first "upgrade" cruise. Any tips on what I should NOT miss when on their ship?
My boyfriend and I and possibly some friends are going on a Carnival cruise for my birthday in May on the Celebration. I cannot wait. Will be my 3rd cruise
Terry Cavo I agree! That is super special. During the pandemic it seemed like like all the cruising channels exploded!
So agree with you. As a group in our 60's and 70's we love Celebrity. And a 9 or 10 day cruise is perfect.
My sister booked a cruise for us out of Norfolk next year! So cool that I live in Carnivals new port city ❤❤❤. I hope some of the other cruise lines will come this way too.
I love this channel
Wow, quite the commitment to drive all the way to Florida!! Fun to hear your back story :)
I just booked a Christmas cruise with my BFF since the sixth grade. We are going to the Caribbean I am binge watching your UA-cam channel. Wanted to say One, you are not missing anything in Vegas Two, Thank You very much🙏
I cannot tell you how I have enjoyed all of your videos that are so helpful for my 1st upcoming cruise to Mexico by Royal Caribbean..I can’t wait… only a few days away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! 🎉
Have you ever been on a European River cruise such as Viking River cruise. Would like to see something on this
Love your videos, I just realized by watching this one what that plaque is that you have sitting on the table behind you when you make your newer videos! We are cruising on a land/cruise in 2025 on Holland America and I am over the top excited! I can’t watch enough videos. It’s a 12 day package but we are arriving two days early in Fairbanks to acclimate and start to chillax! Thanks for all you do, and yes I would be interested join you and others who follow you on a group tour.
Addicted to your channel. Love it. Good tips, always positive and enjoyable. And, you are from Mtl Canada ! Also, you read our comments and reply. My fav channel.
I love cruising!
We’ve been to many since 2002, which was my first and it was to Alaska in Celebrity Summit and it was only me and my mother in law.
My husband and me have been to many others since that and NeXT May we intend to cruise to Alaska, because I want so much that he can go there! I loved it!
Every cruise I’ve been to was great, except one to caribean and it was horrible in every meaning!
Never been on a cruise before. Have a 9yo and 15yo boys who love our annual trips to Gulf Shores, but we wanted a change, so we just booked a Carnival Breeze 5 day cruise to the Caribbean for Fall break next year. From watching multiple videos, I understand that choice may not be the most luxurious option, but with the reputation of being the "fun" ship with a casual family like mine, I am confident that we chose the best cruise out of Galveston (3 hour drive from home) for our family! The older one is a stud athlete, so all the sports fun on that ship is going to keep him busy! The younger one is a fish at heart and a gamer, which again, I think we nailed it for this cruise choice. I don't want this first cruise to be too elegant or classy, we just want to have fun and not worry about who's watching. Ha! No high expectations for us. The cruise you will be going on soon with your adult sons, looks and sounds magical and that may be cruise #2 for us if we enjoy this 1st one like I imagine we will! Thanks for the videos, I have so many of your cruise supplies suggestions saved in my amazon cart. I will be collecting all the "things" throughout the year until we sail!
I'd like it! we have a lot in common. My husband would love it too!
Congratulations
First off, congratulations! We have been watching since early 2023! My family bet that I’d never go on a cruise, but we actually all booked a Carnival Alaskan cruise for June 24. Your videos are so valuable, so thank you.
Now is it bad that you’ve become the Sunday night TV of choice?? Yes, every week I’m told it “cruise video time!”
Congrats! It would be wonderful to have a cruise group with you in the Mediterranean! You are a very good person.
I’m going on the carnival vista in 2023!
We have 5 cruises booked for 2023 and 1 for January 2024. 1 7 night in May on Oasis. 1 11 nights in September on Jewel of the seas. 1 b2b 7 and 7 nights on Anthem in November. 1 7 nights in December on Anthem. And 1 11 nights in January 2024 on Anthem.
My Husband & I are going to Alaska July 16th, 2023 so excited & your Videos have helped Tremendously ❤
I have some questions for your next Q & A session: have you ever encountered issues with Norovirus on a cruise ship? Are you concerned at all about this? What about the spa's on a cruise ship? Have you checked them out? How far ahead of time must someone book an appointment with the spa? Are there little mini refrigerators in a room? I might have to bring medication with me which requires refrigeration.
First time is always a learning experience. 😊
I have done more than 109 cruises (since 1960)… now I do about 10 cruises a year. I do understand keeping up the novelty of it, so I do different lines.
Congratulations on 100 k. You certainly deserve it as you are the best there is when it comes to cruise info! Going on Celebrity to Bermuda in 2024 & I have watched every video!! You are so easy to listen to and you have the best tips! Thank you so much from the East coast of Canada!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🎉🎉🎉🎉🤗🤗🤗
Really enjoy your videos and comments! I do feel your taste of cruising is on the higher end. We are grandparents and we still prefer RCCL and Princess over all. We like normal foods and are not into elegant menus. The activities are definitely geared for all ages on RCCL and Princess. Nothing will ever get us back on a Celebrity ship. We enjoy active cruises and relaxation cruises. Thank you and keep up the good work